Knitting-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. BRADLEY.

KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 320,619. Patented June 23, 1885.

(No Model.)

. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. BRADLEY.

KNITTING'MAGHINE No. 320,619. Patented Ju ne 23, 1885.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. BRADLEY.

KNITTING MACHINE.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BRADLEY, OF CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,619, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed December 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN BRADLEY, of Ghelmsford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to circularknitting machines, and more especially to those adapted to knit two or more threads of diiferent colors in the same fabric, and to automatically change the same, as hereinafter described, whereby circumferential stripes of different colors may be produced in the knitted fabric, and of such width and in such order as may be desired, by automatically severing one of the threads at the finishing of the stripe, and by uniting the other thread with it automatically, so as to uninterruptedly continue the knitting until a predetermined number of courses have been knit, when the other thread is carried into action and the thread just used is automatically severed. A succession of these operations produces a series of stripes circumferentially in the fabric.

Figure 1 represents a plan View of a circular-knitting machinehaving my improvements attached thereto. Fig. 2 represents a plan View of a portion detached. Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation of the machine, showing my improvements connected therewith. Fig. 4 represents an edge elevation of my improved stitch-wheel detached. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the same. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 represent perspective sectional detached views of the stitch-wheel, needles, ends of thread-guides, cutter, and thread-holder, showing three stages in the act of throwing a thread out of action and severing the same, (drawn on an enlarged scale corresponding with Figs. 4 and 5.)

A represents the bed-piece of the machine, upon which the several parts are arranged in the relative positions shown.

13 represents a circular series of springbeard needles, the lower ends of which are secured within the circular head 0, their springbeards or head portions projecting vertically upward therefrom, and serve to assist in forming the stitches and support the fabric, as well as to carry the series of stitches when formed. This circular seriesof needles is rotated about a vertical axis to perform the operations of knitting by means of suitable bevel gear-wheels, (not shown,) being the same as heretofore employed.

D represents the stitch-wheel, by which the thread is looped partly around the needles. The working-faces of the blades of the stitchwheel D are formed with a straight or rightangle center portion, 0, and are provided with a nib, s, projecting from each edge. The upper one serves to engage the thread and carry it up off of the working-faces of the blades and away from the needles, and guide the thread into position to be held and severed, as hereinafter described, and the lower nibs s are provided for feeding the thread to the needles, as usual.

E represents the dividing wheel, which places the loops of thread more accurately upon the bodies of the needles.

F represents the presser-wheel, having a smooth periphery, by which the spring-beards of the needles are depressed to allow the stitches to pass over them.

G represents the landing-wheel, by which the stitches are carried outside or over thepoints of the beards of the needles.

H represents the knocking-over wheel, by which the work is discharged from the needles. These two last-named wheels are journaled upon the usual brackets, being located within the circle of needles, and all the other wheels are journaled upon the ends of the star-boxes, as heretofore. The said wheels G and H are journaled upon fixed axes formed upon'the adjustable brackets I and J, secured to the fixed plate K,which is fast upon the interior shaft, L, about which the said needlehead 0 revolves, said shaft being secured rigidly to the bed-piece A of the machine. In this machine it will be understood that the stripes run parallel with the courses of the stitches, and that the width of the stripe depends upon the number of courses knit before changing the different-colored threads, which is done automatically by the machine when a predetermined number of courses have been knit to form the desired width of stripe. The threads of diiferent colors wound upon the bobbins (not shown) are mounted upon the machine, as usual, and passed through the eyes in the ends of the vibrating thread-guides M and N, and when the thread is carried downward by the thread-guide being vibrated downward into the position of the threadguide N, (shown in Fig. 3,) the lower nibs 8 upon the periphery of the said stitch-wheel D catch the thread as it slides over the working-faces'and lift it up and loop it about the bodies or stems of the needles, so as to be partially looped around the bodies of the said needles B, as usual, in forming the stitches.

It will be seen that by the construction of the said blades with the upper nibs 8 they are adapted to engage the thread, carry it up out, of the way of the needles, and off of the workingfaces of the blades of the stitch-wheel and into position to be severed, as shown in Figs. 6,7, and 8. Now, in order that the thread usedin forming the stripe may be carried out of action and cut,and the end of the severed thread held until again required to form another stripe, there is provided upon the upper edges P of the working-faces of the said blades of the stitch-wheel D similar nibs s, which guide the thread into such position on the ends of the blades of the said stitch-wheel D, when one of the said vibrating thread-guides is raised, as to cause its thread to be drawn beneath the curved end of the spring-plate thread-holder P and within the notch 6, formed therein, which position causes one of the up per nibs s to draw the thread against the edge of the stationary knife 0, whereby it is cut or severed, and its free or loose end is held beneath the said flat spring-plate threadholder P, as shown. The said spring-plate thread-holder l is secured in position so as to have a slight bearing'upon the upper surface of the said stitch-wheel D, so as to retain the said severed end of the thread therein or'be neath the said spring-plate P, which holds or bears upon the thread sufficiently to clamp it upon the face or upper surface of the said stitch-wheel until carried downward by its thread-guide into position to be acted upon, as before, the strainbrought upon the thread when knitted into the fabric a few stitches being sufficient to withdraw the loose end thereof from the said spring threadholder, and the operations proceed as before. hen the threads of different colors are to be changed, the thread-guide M, for instance, may be raised, and its thread out of action at the time, now it is automatically lowered, carrying its thread downward into position on the periphery of the said stitch-wheel D as to pass alongside of the other thread in the threadguide N, so that they both together are knit into the fabric a few stitches, which thus unites the two threads together. Then the thread guide N rises and carries its thread into position with the nibs 8, provided at the end of the said oblique blades at their upward edges,

V and as the said stitch-wheel D rotates it draws said thread beneath the said plate P and within the notch 6, formed in the end thereof, and one of the said nibs 8 draws the thread against the edge of the said knife 0, and it is severed, as herein described, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It will be seen that when the said thread-guide rises it carries its thread up be tween the ends of the blades or nibs s 8 upon the two blades which are opposite the end of the said thread-guide when it rises, which thus carries its thread up outside of the working ends or nibs s, and upon or across the upward face of the said stitch-wheel D, as shown in Fig. 3. This position of the thread permits the action of the nib s which is thus in contact with the thread at the time to draw the same against the edge of the said knife 0, which causes the thread to be thus severed, and the loose end held until again required for use, as above described. The counting or course wheel R is provided around its periphery with twenty-eight teeth, and is turned one tooth at each revolution of the said needles by means of the vibrating pawl S upon the vibrating arm, which is actuated by the facecam WV, which is secured to or formed upon the lower portion of the needle-head O. The face of the said course-wheel R is provided with detachable and adjustable striker-blocks T, two or more of which may be secured thereon in the desired positions by means of screws and pins inserted in the holes formed therein, as shown. The said blocks T contact with the downward-projecting pin U, provided in the vibrating arm V, one end of which is pivoted upon the lower portion of the vertical post X, and the opposite end is provided with the pawl Y, which engages with the teeth upon the periphery of the stripe-Wheel A, journaled' upon the said post X, and carrying upon its upper face the cam-rings B, having upon their upper edges the series of incline faces and offsets which contact with the lower ends of the vertical rods E and F, their upward ends being pivoted to the said threadguides M and N near their rear ends, which are pivoted to the horizontal arm H, which extends from the said vertical post X, and is provided with flat springs L, which press the thread-guides and their cam-rods downward upon the said pattern cam-rings B, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to cause the said threadguides M and N, as the stripe-wheel A is rotated, to vibrate or change their relative positions with the said stitch-wheel D, and thus bring first one and then the other colored thread into action, so as to produce stripes in the fabric, as heretofore, and as above described, by severing the thread at the end or finishing of the desired width of stripe, and retaining the loose end of the thread when the same is out of action, as hereinbefore more fully de scribed and explained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isn 1. The stitch-wheel D, having a series of radial incline blades, the working-faces of which IOC are provided with projecting nibs s at each ing nibs at each edge, spring-plate P, having edge, substantially as described, as and for the the notch e, fixed cutter O, and thread-guides purposes set forth. M and N, as and for the purposes set forth. 2. The combination, with the needle-head JOHN BRADLEY. 5 provided with at series of needles, of the stitoh- Vitnesses:

wheel D, having a series of blades, the work- SYLvENUs \VALKER,

ing-faoes of which are provided with project- OI-IAs. S. GOODING. 

